ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the several sessions of the Open Working Group (OWG), and the strategies and tactics used by the co-chairs to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion. The use of strategy and tactics, as well as occasional drama, is very important for chairs of United Nation multilateral negotiating processes. The possibilities—and enormous size—of the OWG's task came into greater focus as delegates began to discuss what issues would define the goals and targets to be included in the final list of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given that the times had changed markedly since the Millennium Development Goals were developed in 2000 and that Rio+20 described what the SDGs should be, a number of new questions had to be addressed by the OWG. Some delegates saw the OWG and the SDGs as a way of making an end run on issues under negotiation in other forums, including climate change, technology transfer, and trade.
